Apnea

[john999]

The VA finally agreed to treat my apnea. I have an appointment nice and early in the morning when I am half asleep due to "Apnea". The VA sleep Lab people did not listen to what I was asking them. They are going to provide me with a new CPAP. I already have one that is not working for me. What I need is new ideas for treating my apnea. I went to local ENT guy and he says I need an operation to open up my nose, but the surgery is fast but not fool proof. He also wanted to do surgery on my palate. He was going to do it in his office with a local. I said "NO,NO,NO". I talked to my dentist on the outside and he said he did not think the dental appliance would help me, but he would be glad to charge $500 bucks to make one.

People with any chronic condition enter the shark tank of possible quack remedies and unnecessary surgery. I know since simple Cpap has not worked for me I must work with this thing.

[Philip Rogers]

John - why doesn't it work? I now have a BiPAP w/pressures of 14 & 21. I don't think it works but I keep trying. Watch the VA, as they'll send you home w/a new machine but not set it up for you. Mine just left it at the factory settings. My civilian doc said it's cheaper, for them, that way. Ya know I'm beginning to think I don't have sleep apnea. When they test ya, they put so much stuff on ya that you need to sleep supine, causing the apnea. (jmo) I generally sleep on my side, semi-prone. Either way I wake up about every 2 hrs. I used to think it was cuz I needed to pee, so I'd get up and pee. I don't do that much anymore but still wake up, with or without the BiPAP, about every 2 hrs.

pr

Edited March 9, 2013 by Philip Rogers

[john999]

Phil

My Cpap does not work because I can't get a good fit with any mask I have tried. I have a problem breathing through my nose so that rules out nose hose. I have pretty high pressure so I always have leaks and the noise wakes me up plus it dries me out even with humidifier. I am just not a happy camper with the Cpap. The last sleep study done by civilian doctor's lab I could not get to sleep at all. I do think I have apnea because my sleep is awful and I snore. The sleep study confirmed apnea, but I find that every doctor or dentist I go to has his/her own remedy. You can even get a dental devise off the internet where they send you some mush to bite into to make a mold of your teeth. You send it back and they make the device. Cheap.

John

[381sps]

I am glad I have a good sleep center at the VA hospital. They have worked with me a lot on getting the right pressure and setting the Bipap machine up and different mask's. I just ordered a new mask, hose, and filter on my healthy vet site secure messaging received them in a couple of days. It was not easy but I have got use to it now and can'tsleep with out it.

[VADDS]

Our Sleep Lab sometimes refers a Veteran with moderate/severe OSA to my service, to make a dental appliance, when the patient does not want/tolerate CPAP. A custom made device is effective, just not as effective as CPAP. Rule of thumb is that an appliance reduces the apneic episodes per hour by 50%...enough to make a difference. Studies show a dental appliance is more effective than upper airway surgery. An appliance and upper airway surgery combined is more effective than either therapies alone.

The VA's Central Dental Lab is licensed to fabricate the TAP-3 OSA appliance, one of the best on the market. Many VA dental services accept Sleep Lab consults under the eligibility provisions of "Medically Adjunctive Care". Ask your sleep doc if the VA dental service there offers that service, and submit a consult if it does.

Edited March 10, 2013 by VADDS

[john999]

Ok, I will ask about the dental appliance. My ENT wants to do a operation on my nose because the nasal valve collapses thus cutting off breathing through the nose. He also says too much flesh in my soft palate. I want to do this one step at a time, but it seems I get conflicting advice from every doctor I see.